Saturday in the Park with Alejandro

One of the blogs which I regularly read is "The Mexile".  It is written by Gary Denness, an Englishman who lived and worked for a number of years in Mexico City.  During the time he was in Mexico he wrote on his blog about "hidden treasures" of Mexico City, places that are not on the typical tourist track.  One of those treasures was Tezozómoc Park.  On Saturday afternoon Alejandro and I visited the park.

Tezozómoc Park is located in the gritty, industrial district of Azcapotzalco, but just a short distance from the very upscale neighborhood of Ciudad Satélite.  The park was opened in 1982.  The major point of interest is the large pond which is shaped like Lake Texcoco, the lake which in pre-Hispanic times covered much of the Valley of Mexico.  Along the pathway which encircles the pond there are signs which give the location and history of the towns and landmarks (like Xochimilco and Chapultepec) which once stood along the shores of Lake Texcoco.  

The pond is home to a large number of ducks, who are very well fed by the visitors.  (I have to wonder, however, if popcorn is a good diet for ducks!)

I was thinking of Gary Denness, "the Mexile", when I took this picture.  Gary loves turtles, and, if I recall correctly, in his blog he mentioned the turtle population of the park.  However, this is the only turtle I saw.

Many times I have been to Chapultepec Park in Mexico City, and the Retiro Park in Madrid, yet I have never rented one of the boats to go out on their ponds.  Here at Tezozómoc Park Alejandro and I rented a "pedal boat", and spent a very relaxing hour on the pond.

 In the center of the pond is a small island which represents the spot where the Aztecs built their capital.  According to Aztec mythology, their god had told them that they should settle where they saw an eagle, perched on a cactus, devouring a serpent,  On an island in the middle of Lake Texcoco, the Aztecs supposedly saw that omen.  There they built their city of Tenochtitlán, present day Mexico City.  The eagle and the serpent are also the national emblem of the country and appear on the Mexican flag.

On the little island in the park pond, there are statues representing the legendary founding of Tenochtitlán.

Tezozómoc Park is certainly not one of the leading attractions of the Mexico City, but Alejandro and I, along with hundreds of local families, spent a very pleasant Saturday afternoon here.